Golden Spike ceremonies and celebration for the completion of the Northwestern Pacific Rail Road, October 23-25, 1914. Filmed in Willits, Cain Rock, Arcata and Eureka, California.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Unknown
Sponsor: Unknown
Audio/Visual: Si, B&W
Keywords: California; Transportation: Railroad

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - December 16, 2005
Subject: Choo Choo doesnt hold up
This starts out really strongly, with a simply FANTASTIC train ride on the newly completed track. Honestly, this was just great as the train (using a backward view mostly) would look behind at all the men still working.. What I loved is the tunnel shots! Like the screen would go dark for a few secs, then emerge from the tunnel! I mean I LOVE that.. Again, we see workers still working on the railroad.. Some of these are working on the bridges. Look especially at the first bridge, from the first tunnel.. The workers seem to be a billion miles up! Whoa!
The 2nd part is.. well.. A tad dissapointing then the first half, as it showcases the celebrations going on when the train came to town. Lots of hat waving, champagne breaking etc. Not that bad.. But not as good as the first half.

Shotlist

Golden Spike ceremony and celebration for the completion of the Northwestern Pacific Rail Road, October 23-25, 1914. Film begins a short way north of its starting point in Willits (Northern California) and continues over trestles and through tunnels until it reaches the point of celebration at Cain Rock. (The celebration with Mayor Rolph and the Eureka Mayor and other officials. The next day festivities in Arcata,California and Eureka, California are reported. Also attached to this is a short 175' film of the first train load of redwood lumber heading east on a mammoth train, seen off by "Engineer" Governor Rolph. (this was probably 1931)